Method and system for establishing disparate connection paths from a mobile user device to a base station through a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network

ABSTRACT

A system and method for establishing and/or maintaining disparate connection paths from an originating mobile user device to a base station via a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network including an originating mobile user device configured to broadcast at least one of a path establishment request signal and a confirmation request signal to an intermediate mobile user device; a mobile peer-to-peer network including the intermediate mobile user device configured to forwarding at least one of the path establishment request signal, the path establishment response signal, the path confirmation request signal, and a path confirmation response signal, via a disparate connection path; and a base station configured to broadcasting at least one of the path establishment response signal and the path confirmation response signal to the originating mobile user device via one or more disparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer network.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The subject application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/407,063, filed on Feb. 28, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/961,435, filed on Dec. 20, 2007, which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Wireless networks have become increasingly popular for providing networkaccess to a mobile user device. Wireless networks enable connectivity ofmobile user devices to networked resources while reducing the need fortraditional hard-wired network access. As a result, wireless networksprovide a user with greater flexibility and convenience. For example,wireless networks allow for the mobility of a mobile user device withinthe coverage range of the wireless networks. However, wireless networksmay be limited by coverage range and/or capacity to handle a number ofmobile user devices. One typical wireless network may be a peer-to-peer(PTP) network. It may be difficult to maintain the peer-to-peer (PTP)network because one or more mobile user devices may be movingsimultaneously in different directions and/or in and out of thepeer-to-peer (PTP) network. Currently, a mobile user device mayestablish a connection to a base station via one primary connection pathin the peer-to-peer (PTP) network. In the event that the primaryconnection path disappears the one or more mobile user devices may loseconnection to the base station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of exemplary embodiments,reference is now made to the appended drawings. These drawings shouldnot be construed as limiting, but are intended to be exemplary only.

FIG. 1 illustrates a connection system for establishing and/ormaintaining one or more disparate connection paths from a mobile userdevice to a base station via a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network forestablishing and/or maintaining one or more disparate connection pathsfrom a mobile user device to a base station, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a process for establishing and/ormaintaining one or more disparate connection paths from a mobile userdevice to a base station through a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network,according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a process for establishing and/ormaintaining one or more disparate connection paths from a base stationto a mobile user device through a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network,according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment provides a connection system and process forestablishing and/or maintaining one or more connection paths from amobile user device to a base station through a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network. For example, the connection system may couple the mobile userdevice to the base station via one or more disparate connection paths.Also, the connection system may communicate with the mobile user deviceand/or the base station through a network, such as a wireless networkand/or a wired network. Advantageously, the connection system mayprovide a mobile user device with one or more disparate connection pathsto the base station in the event that the mobile user device loses aconnection to the base station (e.g., outside a coverage range of awireless network). Additionally, the connection system may enable amobile user device to establish and/or maintain one or more disparateconnection paths to the base station during an emergency (e.g., overcapacity of a wireless network) via one or more intermediate mobile userdevices. Moreover, the connection system may include a computer readablemedia including code to establish and/or maintain one or more connectionpaths from the mobile user device to the base station.

The description below describes mobile user device, mobile peer-to-peer(PTP) network, base station, and other components that may include oneor more modules, some of which are explicitly depicted, others of whichare not. As used herein, the term “module” may be understood to refer toexecutable software, firmware, hardware, and/or various combinationsthereof. It is noted that the modules are exemplary. The modules may becombined, integrated, separated, and/or duplicated to support variousapplications. Also, a function described herein as being performed at aparticular module may be performed at one or more other modules and/orby one or more other devices instead of or in addition to the functionperformed at the particular module. Further, the modules may beimplemented across multiple devices and/or other components local orremote to one another. Additionally, the modules may be moved from onedevice and added to another device, and/or may be included in bothdevices. It is further noted that the software described herein may betangibly embodied in one or more physical media, such as, but notlimited to, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), afloppy disk, a hard drive, read only memory (ROM), random access memory(RAM), as well as other physical media capable of storing software,and/or combinations thereof. Moreover, the figures illustrate variouscomponents (e.g., servers, computers, etc.) separately. The functionsdescribed as being performed at various components may be performed atother components, and the various components may be combined and/orseparated. Other modifications also may be made.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary connection system 100 for establishingand/or maintaining one or more connection paths from a mobile userdevice to a base station via a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network,according to an exemplary embodiment. System 100 may include one or morebase stations 160 coupled to a service provider (not shown). Also, anoriginating mobile user device 120 may be connected to the one or morebase stations 160 via a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140.

Mobile user device 120, may be a cellular communication device, acellular telephone, a personal computer (PC), a global positioningsystem (GPS), a workstation, a mobile device, a phone, a handheld PC, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a thin system, a fat system, a networkappliance, an Internet browser, a paging, an alert device, a television,an interactive television, a receiver, a tuner, a high definition (HD)television, a HD receiver, a video-on-demand (VOD) system, and/or othermobile communication devices capable of receiving and/or transmitting asignal for connection to the base station 160. Also, the mobile userdevice 120 may include a transceiver for receiving a signal from anothermobile user device 120 and forwarding the received signal to anothermobile user device 120 and/or the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices. Further, the mobile user device 120 may include one or moredatabases for storing a peer-to-peer (PTP) routing table.

Mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140, may include one or more mobilecommunication devices communicating with each other to form apeer-to-peer (PTP) network. The one or more mobile communication devicesmay include one or more mobile user devices 120 as described above.Also, the one or more mobile communication devices may include one ormore devices capable of relying one or more communication signalsbetween the mobile user device 120 and the base station 160.

One or more base stations 160, may include a base transceiver system, abase station controller, a base mobile switching center and/or othersystems for enabling transmission/reception of data to and from themobile user device 120 to the service provider (not shown). Also, theone or more base stations 160 may include one or more databases forstoring a peer-to-peer (PTP) routing table. The one or more base station160 may be connected to the service provider via a wireless networkand/or a wired network.

FIG. 2, illustrates a detailed exemplary connection system 100 forestablishing and/or maintaining one or more connection paths from amobile user device to a base station via a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network, according to an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 may include one or more nodes220 coupled by one or more communications links 240. The one or morenodes 220 and the one or more communication links 240 may be arranged toestablish and/or maintain one or more disparate connection paths fromthe mobile user device 120 to the one or more base stations 160. Forexample, a disparate connection path from the mobile user device 120 tothe one or more base stations 160 as illustrated in FIG. 2, may beenabled by transmission path 1 via a plurality of intermediate node 1,7, 8, 4 and 5. Various disparate connection paths between the mobileuser device 120 and the one or more base stations 160 may be establishedby different intermediate nodes within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network 140. Although FIG. 2 illustrates that the mobile user device 120is connected to one base station 160, the mobile user device 120 may beconnected to a plurality of base stations 160 through one or moredisparate connection paths.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 mayinclude a plurality of nodes 220. However, the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network 140 may include one node 220 to connect the mobile user device120 to the one or more base stations 160. The number of nodes 220 withinthe mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 may vary based at least inpart on the location, time, coverage range, battery power, andfunctionality associated with the mobile user device 120. Also, thenumber of nodes 220 within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 mayvary based at least in part selection by one or more users associatedwith the nodes 220. For example, the one or more users associated withthe nodes 220 may select to activate or inactivate the one or more nodes220 within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Further, thenumber of nodes 220 within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 mayvary based at least in part on the service provider (not shown). Forexample, the service provider (not shown) may activate or inactivate theone or more nodes 220 within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140.

The one or more nodes 220 may be an originating node where transmissionof data commences, a termination node where transmission of dataterminates, and/or an intermediate node where transmission of data maytraverse. The one or more nodes 220 may be one or more mobilecommunication devices for the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140, asdescribed above, to enable a connection between each node. Also, the oneor more nodes 220 may include one or more mobile user devices 120 asdescribed above. In addition, the one or more nodes 220 may include arepeater, a digipeater, a signal carrier system, a broadcast translator,a cellular repeater, an Ethernet hub, a multi-port repeater, a microwaveradio relay, a L-carrier, an optical communication repeater, an radiorepeater and/or other devices that are capable of receives a signal andretransmit a signal.

Communication links 240 may be a communication channel that may connecttwo or more nodes 220. Communication links 240 may be one or more wiredcommunication links and/or one or more wireless communication links.Communication link 240 may be a point-to-point link, a multi-point link,a point-to multi-point link, or a combination of different types oflinks mentioned before. For example, the one or more wired communicationlinks may include optical fiber, multi-mode optical fibers, single-modeoptical fibers, graded-index fibers, step-index optical fiber or acombination of the different types of optical fiber mentioned before.Further, the one or more wired communication links may include telephoneline, co-axial cable and/or other wired communication link fortransmission of data. The one or more wireless communication links mayinclude cellular links, wireless LAN links, Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) links, Personal Communication Service (PCS) links,Personal Area Network (PAN) links, D-AMPS links, Wi-Fi links, FixedWireless Data links, satellite links, IEEE 802.11a links, 802.11b links,802.15.1 links, 802.11n and 802.11g links and/or other wireless link toenable transmission of data.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a process for establishing and/ormaintaining one or more disparate connection paths from a mobile userdevice to a base station through a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network,according to an exemplary embodiment. This exemplary method 300 isprovided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry outthe method. The method 300 shown in FIG. 3 can be executed or otherwiseperformed by one or a combination of various systems. The method 300described below may be carried out by system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,by way of example, and various elements of the system 100 are referencedin explaining the example method of FIG. 3. Each block shown in FIG. 3represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines carried inexemplary method 300. Referring to FIG. 3, exemplary method 300 maybegin at block 302.

At block 302, an originating mobile user device 120 may broadcast a pathestablishment request (PERt) signal. A user associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120 may initiate a connection between themobile user device 120 and one or more base stations 160 through amobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. For example, the user associatedwith the originating mobile user device 120 may activate a peer-to-peer(PTP) connection option to establish and/or maintain one or moreconnection paths to the one or more base stations 160 via the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Also, in the event that the originatingmobile user device 120 loses a connection with the one or more basestations 160, the originating mobile user device 120 may automaticallyestablish and/or maintain one or more connection paths to the one ormore base stations 160 via the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140.

Also at block 302, the originating mobile user device 120 may broadcastthe path establishment request (PERt) signal to one or more intermediatemobile user devices within a transmission range of the pathestablishment request (PERt) signal. For example, the originating mobileuser device 120 may broadcast at a predetermined frequency. Thepredetermined frequency may be selected by the user associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120. Also, the predetermined frequencymay be assigned by a service provider. For example, the predeterminedfrequency may include a public frequency, emergency frequency and/orother available frequency for broadcasting a signal. Also, theoriginating mobile user device 120 may utilize different broadcastingmethods to broadcast the path establishment request (PERt) signal to oneor more intermediate mobile user devices. For example, differentbroadcasting methods may include multi-cast broadcasting method,amplitude modulation broadcasting, frequency modulation broadcasting,narrowcasting, simulcasting and/or other broadcasting methods.

Also at block 302, the path establish request (PERt) signal broadcastedby the originating mobile user device 120 may include identificationinformation associated with the originating mobile user device 120. Theidentification information may include at least one of a cellulartelephone number, a SIM identification, a host identification, alocation (e.g., GPS coordinates) and/or a time associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120 when broadcasting the path establishrequest (PERt) signal.

Also at block 302, the originating mobile user device 120 may broadcastthe path establishment request (PERt) signal received from anothersource mobile user device or intermediate mobile user device. Thereceived path establishment request (PERt) signal may include at leastone of a cellular telephone number, a SIM identification, a hostidentification, a location (e.g., GPS coordinates) and a time associatedwith one or more mobile user devices that the path establishment request(PERt) signal may be forwarded through. Also, the originating mobileuser device 120 may generate a new path establishment request (PERt)signal based at least in part on the received path established request(PERt) signal from another originating mobile user device or one or moreintermediate mobile user devices. For example, the newly generated pathestablishment request (PERt) signal may incorporate informationassociated with the received path establishment request (PERt) signalalong with the identification information associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120. Thereafter, the originating mobileuser device 120 may broadcast the newly generated path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal. After the originating mobile user device 120 maybroadcast a path establishment request (PERt) signal, the method 300 mayproceed to block 304.

At block 304, one or more intermediate mobile user devices located atone or more nodes 220 may receive the path establishment request (PERt)signal. For example, a user may be associated with the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220.The user associated with the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices located at the one or more nodes 220 may activate or inactivatea peer-to-peer (PTP) connection option associated with the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220.For example, in the event that the user associated with the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220may activate the peer-to-peer (PTP) connection option, the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may function as a temporary mobilerelay station. Therefore, the user may activate the peer-to-peer (PTP)connection option associated with the one or more intermediate mobileuser devices located at the one or more nodes 220 and receive the pathestablishment request (PERt) signal. Also, the user may inactivate thepeer-to-peer (PTP) connection option associated with the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220and reject the path establishment request (PERt) signal.

Also at block 304, the service provider associated with the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220may activate or inactivate the peer-to-peer (PTP) connection option ofthe one or more intermediate mobile user devices. For example, theservice provider associated with the one or more intermediate mobileuser devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may inactivate thepeer-to-peer (PTP) connection option. Also, during an emergency (e.g.,fire, terrorist attack) and/or a natural disaster the service providermay activate the peer-to-peer (PTP) connection option associated withthe one or more intermediate mobile user devices located at the one ormore nodes 220 even though the user may inactivate the peer-to-peer(PTP) connection option.

Also at block 304, the one or more intermediate mobile user deviceslocated at one or more nodes 220 may be simultaneously moving in and outof the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. In the event that the oneor more intermediate mobile user devices received the path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal from the originating mobile user device 120 andmoved outside the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Therefore, theoriginating mobile user device 120 may broadcast the path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal again. Also in the event that one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may move within the mobile peer-to-peer(PTP) network 140, the one or more intermediate mobile user devices mayreceive the path establishment request (PERt) signal broadcasted by theoriginating mobile user device 120. After, the one or more intermediatemobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220 receive thepath establishment request (PERt) signal, the method 300 may proceedblock 306.

At block 306, the one or more intermediate mobile user devices locatedat the one or more nodes 220 which received the path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal may determine whether the one or more intermediatemobile user devices have a connection to one or more base stations 160.In the event that the one or more intermediate mobile user deviceslocated at the one or more nodes 220 may have a connection to the one ormore base stations 160, the method 300 may proceed to block 308. Also,in the in event that the one or more intermediate mobile user deviceslocated at the one or more nodes 220 may not have a connection to theone or more base stations 160, the method 300 may proceed to block 314.

At block 308, in the event that one or more intermediate mobile userdevices located at the one or more nodes 220 may have a connection tothe one or more base stations 160, the one or more intermediate mobileuser devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may determine whetherthe received path establishment request (PERt) signal may have beenreceived before. For example, the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices located at the one or more nodes 220 may maintain a record ofthe received one or more path establishment requests (PERt) signals viaa peer-to-peer (PTP) routing table. The one or more intermediate mobileuser devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may compare thereceived path establishment request (PERt) signal with the previouslyrecorded path establishment requests (PERt) signal in the peer-to-peer(PTP) routing table. In the event that the received path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal may have already been received, the method 300 mayproceed to block 310. In the event that the received path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal may be a new path establishment request (PERt)signal, the method 300 may proceed to block 312.

At block 310, in the event that the received path establishment request(PERt) signal have already been received, the one or more intermediatemobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may discard thereceived path establishment request (PERt) signal.

At block 312, in the event that the received path establishment request(PERt) signal may be a new path establishment request (PERt) signal, theone or more intermediate mobile user devices located at the one or morenodes 220 may forward the received path establishment request (PERt)signal to the one or more base stations 160. For example, the one ormore intermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes220 may record the received path establishment request (PERt) signal inthe peer-to-peer (PTP) routing table. Also, the one or more intermediatemobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may encodeidentification information associated with the one or more intermediatemobile user devices to the received path establishment request (PERt)signal. The identification information associated with the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may include at least one of a cellulartelephone number, a SIM identification, a host identification, alocation (e.g., GPS coordinates) and/or a time associated with one ormore intermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes220 to the received path establishment request (PERt) signal.Thereafter, the one or more intermediate mobile user devices located atthe one or more nodes 220 may forward the encoded path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal to the one or more base stations 160.

Also at block 312, the one or more intermediate mobile user deviceslocated at the one or more nodes 220 may generate a new pathestablishment request (PERt) signal based at least in part on thereceived path establishment request (PERt) signal. For example, thenewly generated path establishment request (PERt) signal may incorporateinformation associated with the received path established request (PERt)signal from another originating mobile user device or one or moreintermediate mobile user devices. Thereafter, the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220may transmit the newly generated path establishment request (PERt)signal to the one or more base stations 160. After the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220may forward the received path establishment request (PERt) signal to theone or more base stations 160, the method 300 may proceed to block 314.

At block 314, in the event that one or more intermediate mobile userdevices located at the one or more nodes 220 may not have a connectionto the one or more base stations 160, the one or more intermediatemobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may determinewhether the received path establishment request (PERt) signal may havebeen received before. For example, the one or more intermediate mobileuser devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may maintain a recordof received one or more path establishment requests (PERt) signals via apeer-to-peer (PTP) routing table. The one or more intermediate mobileuser devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may compare thereceived path establishment request (PERt) signal with the previouslyrecorded one or more path establishment requests (PERt) signals in thepeer-to-peer (PTP) routing table. In the event that the received pathestablishment request (PERt) signal may have already been received, themethod 300 may proceed to block 316. In the event that the received pathestablishment request (PERt) signal may be a new path establishmentrequest (PERt) signal, the method 300 may proceed to block 318.

At block 316, in the event that the received path establishment request(PERt) signal have already been received, the one or more intermediatemobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may discard thereceived path establishment request (PERt) signal.

At block 318, in the event that the received path establishment request(PERt) signal may be a new path establishment request (PERt) signal, theone or more intermediate mobile user devices located at the one or morenodes 220 may forward the received path establishment request (PERt)signal to one or more intermediate mobile user devices within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 until a connection to the one or morebase stations 160 may be established. For example, each intermediatemobile user devices within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 mayrecord the received path establishment request (PERt) signal via apeer-to-peer (PTP) routing table. Also, each intermediate mobile userdevices within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 may encodeidentification information associated with the one or more intermediatemobile user devices to the received path establishment request (PERt)signal. The identification information associated with the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may include at least one of a cellulartelephone number, a SIM identification, a host identification, alocation (e.g., GPS coordinates) and/or a time associated with eachintermediate mobile user devices. Thereafter, each intermediate mobileuser devices located at the one or more nodes 220 may forward theencoded path establishment request (PERt) signal to the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices until a connection may be establishedwith the one or more base stations 160.

Also at block 318, each intermediate mobile user devices within themobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 may generate a new pathestablishment request (PERt) signal based at least in part on thereceived path establishment request (PERt) signal. For example, thenewly generated path establishment request (PERt) signal may be based atleast in part on the received path established request (PERt) signalfrom another originating mobile user device or the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network 140. Thereafter, each intermediate mobile user devices maytransmit the newly generated path establishment request (PERt) signal tothe one or more intermediate mobile user devices until a connection tothe one or more base stations 160 may be established. After the one ormore intermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes220 may forward the received path establishment request (PERt) signal toone or more intermediate mobile user devices within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 until a connection to the one or morebase stations 160 may be established, the method 300 may proceed toblock 320.

At block 320, the path establishment request (PERt) signal may beforwarded to an intermediate mobile user devices located at the one ormore nodes 220 that may have a connection to the one or more basestations 160. As mentioned above at block 312, the intermediate mobileuser device that may have a connection to the one or more base stations160 may forward the received path establishment request (PERt) signal tothe one or more base stations 160. After forwarding the received pathestablishment request (PERt) signal to the one or more base stations160, the method 300 may proceed to block 322.

At block 322, the one or more base stations 160 may receive one or morepath establishment request (PERt) signals via one or more disparateconnection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Forexample, one base station 160 may receive one or more path establishmentrequest (PERt) signals via one or more disparate connection paths withinthe mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Also, a plurality of basestations 160 may receive one or more establishment request (PERt)signals via one or more disparate connection paths within the mobilepeer-to-peer network 140. The one or more base stations 160 may receivethe one or more path establishment request (PERt) signals and record theone or more path establishment request (PERt) signals on a routingdatabase. The one or more path establishment request (PERt) signals mayinclude one or more routing information associated with the one or moredisparate connection paths. The one or more routing informationassociated with the one or more disparate connection paths may includeat least one of identification information associated with the one ormore intermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes220. Also, the one or more base stations 160 may record the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices associated with the one or moredisparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network140 on the routing database.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process forestablishing and/or maintaining one or more connection paths from a basestation to a mobile user device through a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network, according to an exemplary embodiment. This exemplary method 400is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carryout the method. The method 400 shown in FIG. 4 can be executed orotherwise performed by one or a combination of various systems. Themethod 400 described below may be carried out by system 100 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, by way of example, and various elements of the system 100are referenced in explaining the example method of FIG. 4. Each blockshown in FIG. 4 represents one or more processes, methods or subroutinescarried in exemplary method 400. Referring to FIG. 4, exemplary method400 may begin at block 402.

At block 402, one or more base stations 160 may broadcast one or morepath establishment response (PERs) signals. For example, one basestation 160 may broadcast one or more path establishment response (PERs)signals. Also, a plurality of base stations 160 may broadcast one ormore path establishment response (PERs) signals. The one or more basestations 160 may receive the one or more path establishment request(PERt) signals associated with one or more disparate connection pathswithin a mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The one or more basestations 160 may record the one or more received path establishmentrequest (PERt) signals associated with the one or more disparateconnection paths on a routing database. Also, the one or more basestations 160 may record routing information in the one or more receivedpath establishment request (PERt) signals associated with the one ormore disparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network 140 on the routing database. The one or more base stations 160may generate one or more path establishment response (PERs) signalsbased at in part on the received one or more path establishment request(PERt) signals. For example, the one or more base stations 160 maygenerate one or more establishment response (PERs) signals based atleast in part on the one or more received path establishment request(PERt) signals associated with the one or more disparate connectionpaths. For example, the one or more path establishment response (PERs)signals may include identification information associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120. Also, the one or more pathestablishment response (PERs) signals may include identificationinformation associated with the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices of the one or more disparate connection paths within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Further, the one or more pathestablishment response (PERs) signals may include one or more routinginstructions associated with the one or more disparate connection pathswithin the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. After the one or morebase stations 160 may broadcast the one or more path establishmentresponse (PERs) signals, the method 400 may proceed to block 404.

At block 404, one or more intermediate mobile user devices may forwardthe one or more path establishment response (PERs) signals to theoriginating mobile user device 120. For example, the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may receive the one or more pathestablishment response (PERs) signals from the one or more base stations160. The one or more intermediate mobile user devices may be associatedwith the one or more disparate connection paths within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The one or more path establishmentresponse (PERs) signals from the one or more base stations 160 may beforwarded to the originating mobile user device 120 via the one or moredisparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network140.

Also at block 404, the one or more intermediate mobile user devices mayforward the one or more path establishment response (PERs) signals basedat least in part on the one or more routing instructions associated withthe one or more disparate connection paths. Further, one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may be part of the one or more routinginstructions associated with the one or more disparate connection pathsmay move outside the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The one ormore path establishment response (PERs) signals may not be forwarded tothe originating mobile user device 120. Moreover, one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may be part of the one or more routinginstructions associated with the one or more disparate connection pathsmay inactivate the peer-to-peer (PTP) connection option of the one ormore intermediate mobile user devices. Therefore, one or more pathestablishment response (PERs) signals may not be forwarded to theoriginating mobile user device 120. After the one or more intermediatemobile user devices may forward the one or more path establishmentresponse (PERs) signals to the originating mobile user device 120, themethod 400 may proceed to block 406.

At block 406, the originating mobile user device 120 may receive one ormore path establishment response (PERs) signals. The originating mobileuser device 120 may receive one or more path establishment response(PERs) signals associated with the one or more disparate connectionpaths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 and/or one ormore base stations 160. The originating mobile user device 120 mayestablish one or more disparate connection paths within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 based at least in part on the receivedone or more path establishment response (PERs) signals. Therefore, theoriginating mobile user device 120 may maintain one or more disparateconnection paths to the one or more base stations 160.

Also at block 406, the originating mobile user device 120 may select apredetermined number of disparate connection paths within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. For example, a user associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120 may select a predetermined number ofdisparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network140. Also, a service provider associated with the one or more basestations 160 may select a predetermined number of disparate connectionpaths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. For example, theoriginating mobile user device 120 may establish and/or maintain threeto five disparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network 140.

Further at block 406, the originating mobile user device 120 may use oneor more mathematical algorithms to select the one or more received pathestablishment response (PERs) signals to establish and/or maintain oneor more disparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP)network 140 to the one or more base stations 160. For example, in theevent that one path establishment response (PERs) signal may be receivedby the originating mobile user device 120. The received pathestablishment response (PERs) signal may be associated with oneconnection path within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Themathematical algorithm may select the one or more received pathestablishment response (PERs) signals to establish and/or maintain theconnection path within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Also,in the event that the originating mobile user device 120 may receive aplurality of path establishment response (PERs) signals, the originatingmobile user device 120 may select to establish and/or maintain apredetermined number of disparate connection paths within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. One or more mathematical algorithms maybe used select from the plurality of path establishment response (PERs)signals to establish and/or maintain the predetermined number ofdisparate connection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network140. For example, the originating mobile user device 120 may select oneor more disparate connection paths based at least in part on a number ofnodes 220 associated with the one or more disparate connection paths.The originating mobile user device 120 may select one or more disparateconnection paths having a minimum number of nodes 220 between theoriginating mobile user device 120 and the one or more base stations160. Also, the originating mobile user device 120 may select one or moredisparate connection paths based at least in part on the signaltraveling time between the originating mobile user device 120 and theone or more base stations 160. The originating mobile user device 120may select one or more disparate connection paths having minimum signal(e.g., path establishment request (PERt) signal and/or pathestablishment response (PERs) signal) travel time between theoriginating mobile user device 120 and the one or more base stations160. Further, the originating mobile user device 120 may select one ormore disparate connection paths based at least in part on an associationwith the one or more selected base stations 160. The originating mobileuser device 120 may select one or more disparate connection paths basedat least in part on the association with the one or more base stations160 selected by the originating mobile user device 120. Moreover, theoriginating mobile user device 120 may select one or more disparateconnection paths based at least in part on a use associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120 and/or a service provider associatedwith the one or more base stations 160. For example, the user and/or theservice provider may select from the plurality of path establishmentresponse (PERs) signals to establish and/or maintain one or moredisparate connection paths between the originating mobile user device120 and the one or more base stations 160. Furthermore, a combination ofselection method described above may be used to select one or more pathestablishment response (PERs) signals to establish and/or maintain oneor more disparate connection paths between the originating mobile userdevice 120 and the one or more base stations 160.

Furthermore at block 406, the originating mobile user device 120 mayreceive a plurality of path establishment response (PERs) signals. Thereceived plurality of path establishment response (PERs) signals may beassociated with a plurality of connection paths. However, the pluralityof connection paths may share one or more common nodes 220 within themobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The originating mobile userdevice 120 may select one or more “primary” connection paths based atleast in part on the one or more common nodes 220. Also, the originatingmobile user device 120 may select one or more “secondary” connectionpaths sharing the one or more primary connection paths. For example, theone or more “primary” connection paths and/or the one or more“secondary” connection paths may be selected based at least on one of anumber of nodes 220 associated with the one or more disparate connectionpaths, a signal traveling time between the originating mobile userdevice 120 and the one or more base stations 160, an association withthe one or more selected base stations 160, and a user selection.

Moreover, the originating mobile user device 120 may not receive a pathestablishment response (PERs) signal. The originating mobile user device120 may continuously and/or periodically rebroadcast a pathestablishment request (PERt). After the originating mobile user device120 may receive one or more path establishment response (PERs) signals,the method 400 may proceed to block 408.

At block 408, the originating mobile user device 120 may broadcast oneor more path confirmation request (PCRt) signals to one or moreintermediate mobile user devices associated with the one or moreselected disparate connection paths. The originating mobile user device120 may broadcast one or more path confirmation request (PCRt) signalsbased at least in part on the one or more disparate connection pathswithin the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. For example, the oneor more path confirmation request (PCRt) signals may contain informationassociated with the one or more disparate connection paths within themobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The information associated withthe one or more disparate connection paths within the mobilepeer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 may include at least one ofidentification information associated with the one or more intermediatemobile user devices of the disparate connection paths, routinginstructions, and identification information associated with theoriginating mobile user device 120. After the originating mobile userdevice 120 may broadcast the one or more path confirmation request(PCRt) signals to the one or more intermediate user devices, the method400 may proceed to block 410.

At block 410, the one or more intermediate mobile user devices mayforward the one or more path confirmation request (PCRt) signals to theone or more base stations 160. For example, the one or more intermediateuser devices may be associated with each disparate connection paths fromthe originating mobile user device 120 to the one or more base stations160 within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Each intermediatemobile user device within each disparate connection path may forward thepath confirmation request (PCRt) signal until the one or more basestations 160 may receive the path confirmation request (PCRt) signal.Each intermediate mobile user device within each disparate connectionpath may forward the path confirmation request (PCRt) signal based atleast in part on the routing instruction of the path confirmationrequest (PCRt) signal. Also, each intermediate mobile user device withineach disparate connection path may update a routing table of eachintermediate mobile user device based at least in part on theinformation associated with the path confirmation request (PCRt) signal.For example, each intermediate mobile user device within each disparateconnection path may record all the information associated with the pathconfirmation request (PCRt) signal. Also, each intermediate mobile userdevice may record a partial information associated with the pathconfirmation request (PCRt) signal. For example, the intermediate mobileuser device may record identification information associated withcontiguous mobile user device based at least in part on the routinginstruction of the path confirmation request (PCRt) signal. Also, theone or more intermediate mobile user devices located at the one or morenodes 220 of the one or more selected disparate connection paths maymove outside the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the one or more nodes 220 ofthe one or more selected disparate connection paths may inactivate thepeer-to-peer (PTP) connection option. Therefore, the one or more pathconfirmation request (PCRt) signals may not be forwarded to the one ormore base stations 160. After the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices may forward the one or more path confirmation request (PCRt)signals to the one or more base stations 160, the method 400 may proceedto block 412.

At block 412, the one or more base stations 160 may broadcast one ormore path confirmation response (PCRs) signals. For example, the one ormore base stations 160 may receive the one or more path confirmationrequest (PCRt) signals from the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices associated with the one or more disparate connection pathswithin the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The one or more basestations 160 may generate the one or more path confirmation response(PCRs) signals based at least in part on the received one or more pathconfirmation request (PCRt) signals. For example, the one or more pathconfirmation response (PCRs) signals may include at least one ofidentification information associated with each intermediate mobile userdevices of each disparate connection path, routing instruction andidentification information associated with the originating mobile userdevice 120. Further, the one or more base stations 160 may update apeer-to-peer (PTP) routing table. The peer-to-peer (PTP) routing tablemay include at least one of identification information associated witheach intermediate mobile user devices of each disparate connectionpaths, routing instruction and identification information associatedwith the originating mobile user device 120. After the one or more basestations 160 may broadcast the one or more path confirmation response(PCRs) signals, the method 400 may proceed to block 414.

At block 414, the one or more intermediate mobile user devices mayforward the one or more path confirmation response (PCRs) signals to theoriginating mobile user device 120. Each intermediate mobile user deviceof each disparate connection paths may receive the path confirmationresponse (PCRs) signal associated with the disparate connection path.Upon receiving the path confirmation response (PCRs) signal, eachintermediate mobile user device of each disparate connection path mayactivate a peer-to-peer (PTP) table based at least in part on the pathconfirmation response (PCRs) signal. By activating the peer-to-peer(PTP) table associated with each intermediate mobile user device, theintermediate mobile user device may function as a temporary relaystation and connect the originating mobile user device 120 to the one ormore base stations 160. Also, the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices may forward the one or more path confirmation response (PCRs)signals until the originating mobile user device 120 may receive the oneor more path confirmation response (PCRs) signals. After the one or moreintermediate mobile user devices may forward the one or more pathconfirmation response (PCRs) signals to the originating mobile userdevice 120, the method 400 may proceed to block 416.

At block 416, the originating mobile user device 120 may receive the oneor more path confirmation response (PCRs) signals. The originatingmobile user device 120 may record the received one or more pathconfirmation response (PCRs) signals on a peer-to-peer (PTP) routingtable. By activating the peer-to-peer (PTP) routing table, theoriginating mobile user device 120 may establish one or more disparateconnection paths within the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140 to theone or more base stations 160.

It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the connectionsystem 100 enables the mobile user device 120 to establish one or moredisparate connection paths to the base station 160 via one or moreintermediate mobile user devices located at the mobile peer-to-peer(PTP) network 140. For example, in the event that a user associated withthe mobile user device 120 may be hiking in an area outside a coveragerange of the base station 160. The mobile user device 120 may loses aconnection to the base station 160. Also, in the event of a naturaldisaster and/or an terrorist attack, a wireless network may be overloaded with mobile user devices and therefore the mobile user device 120may loses a connection to the base station 160. The mobile user device120 may establish and/or maintain a predetermined number of disparateconnection paths with the base station 160 via one or more intermediatemobile user device in the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. Themobile user device 120 may establish and/or maintain five disparateconnection paths to ensure a stable and reliable connection with thebase station 160. Therefore, in the event that one or more of the fivedisparate connection paths may be lost due to one or more intermediatemobile user devices of the one or more disparate connection paths movedoutside the mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140. The mobile userdevice 120 may still maintain a connection to the base station 160 viathe mobile peer-to-peer (PTP) network 140.

In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto,and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing fromthe broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims thatfollow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded inan illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: generating a pathestablishment request signal for transmission to an intermediate mobileuser device from an originating mobile user device; transmitting thepath establishment request signal to the intermediate mobile device;determining whether the intermediate mobile user device has a connectionto a base station; and if the intermediate mobile user device has aconnection to the base station, transmitting a path establishmentresponse signal to the originating mobile user device.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining whether the path establishmentrequest signal has already been received by the intermediate mobile userdevice.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: discarding thepath establishment request signal if the path establishment requestsignal has already been received by the intermediate mobile user device.4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: if the intermediate mobileuser device does not have a connection to the base station, forwardingthe path establishment request signal to another intermediate mobiledevice.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing aplurality of disparate connection paths with the base station when theoriginating mobile user device loses a connection path with the basestation.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the pluralityof disparate connection paths establishes or maintains communicationbetween the originating mobile user device and the base station.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate mobile user deviceis part of a mobile peer-to-peer network.
 8. An apparatus comprising:one or more processors configured to, generate a path establishmentrequest signal for transmission to an intermediate mobile user devicefrom an originating mobile user device, transmit the path establishmentrequest signal to the intermediate mobile device; determine whether theintermediate mobile user device has a connection to a base station; andif the intermediate mobile user device has a connection to the basestation, transmit a path establishment response signal to theoriginating mobile user device.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the one or more processors is further configured to determinewhether the path establishment request signal has already been receivedby the intermediate mobile user device.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the one or more processors is further configured todiscard the path establishment request signal if the path establishmentrequest signal has already been received by the intermediate mobile userdevice.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the one or moreprocessors is further configured to establish a plurality of disparateconnection paths with the base station when the originating mobile userdevice loses a connection path with the base station.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the one or more processors is furtherconfigured to establish or maintain communication between theoriginating mobile user device and the base station.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the one or more intermediate mobile userdevices are part of a mobile peer-to-peer network.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the one or more processors is further configured toforward the path establishment request signal to another intermediatemobile device if the intermediate mobile user device does not have aconnection to the base station.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or moreinstructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause anapparatus to at least perform the following: generating a pathestablishment request signal for transmission to an intermediate mobileuser device from an originating mobile user device; transmitting thepath establishment request signal to the intermediate mobile device;determining whether the intermediate mobile user device has a connectionto a base station; and if the intermediate mobile user device has aconnection to the base station, transmitting a path establishmentresponse signal to the originating mobile user device.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein theapparatus is further caused to determine whether the path establishmentrequest signal has already been received by the intermediate mobile userdevice.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to discard the pathestablishment request signal, if the path establishment request signalhas already been received by the intermediate mobile user device. 18.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, whereinthe apparatus is further caused to establish a plurality of disparateconnection paths with the base station when the originating mobile userdevice loses a connection path with the base station.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein theapparatus further causes at least one of the plurality of disparateconnection paths to establish or maintain communication between theoriginating mobile user device and the base station.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein theapparatus further forwards the path establishment request signal toanother intermediate mobile device if the intermediate mobile userdevice does not have a connection to the base station.